San Diego-Imperial County Activities

Family Friendly / Scout Friendly Activities
San Diego-Imperial County Area

Camping

1. Guajome County Park - Largest urban park in North County area is known both for its rich natural habitats (including a small, but beautiful Lake Guajome) and its historic Rancho Guajome Adobe. The adjacent Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum also hosts group scouting camping, Scout Camporees for San Diego-Imperial Council units and the annual kickoff for the Girl Scout Cookie Sales. From Guajome you can follow the 10-mile San Luis Rey River Bike Trail for a flat ride straight to the Pacific Ocean. Also it is the number-one rated bird watching destination in North County.

More local area camping opportunities can be found at the following:

• Cleveland National Forest - many campgrounds and hiking trails
• San Diego Beach Camping - camping next to the ocean is pretty cool.
• San Diego County Parks - 9 parks with campgrounds and hiking trails, 12 historical/cultural sites and 15 sports parks.
• Imperial County Parks
• USS Midway Museum - youth groups can sleep overnight on this historic aircraft carrier / national landmark and learn all about military aviation, radio electronics and much more.

Scout Camps - BSA

San Diego-Imperial Council Camps feature many resources for organizing exciting outdoor adventure group activities and are available for rental by scout groups, families and other youth groups. Some camps feature an organized week long campership program during summer months.

1. Mataguay Scout Camp - Traditional wilderness camp and primary outdoor learning center of the council located in the mountains near Lake Henshaw. Their summer camp program is one of the few BSA facilities to feature glider flights and mountain biking courses. Shooting sports center is also most popular here.
2. Fiesta Island Youth Aquatic Center - Sailing, oceanography, boating, surfing, kayaking, swimming and other aquatic activities are featured parts of this bayfront summer camp located in San Diego's famous Mission Bay Park.
3. Camp Balboa - Cub Scout Activity and camping center located in downtown San Diego adjacent to Balboa Park and the World Famous San Diego Zoo. Includes full size swimming pool.

High Adventure

Local opportunities for mountain, desert and river treks and council approved high adventure patches:

• Palomar Mountain State Park
• Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
• Anza Borrego Desert State Park
• Lower Colorado River Valley
• Mormon Battalion Trail
• Pacific Crest Trail - which runs 3000 miles from Mexican border, up the length of California, across Oregon and Washington, to the Canadian border. It provides numerous opportunities for both shorter and longer backpacking trips and high adventure training.
• Cleveland National Forest - access trails to the three tallest peaks in San Diego County (all over 6,100 feet tall) - Mount Laguna, Cuyamaca Peak and Palomar Mountain - as well as many trailheads to the Pacific Crest Trail.

Hiking

• Mormon Battalion Trail
• Pacific Crest Trail - which runs 3000 miles from Mexican border, up the length of California, across Oregon and Washington, to the Canadian border. It provides numerous opportunities for both shorter and longer backpacking trips and high adventure training.

Urban Hikes

• San Diego 7 Bridges Hikes - Whether you call it "walking" or "urban hiking," this easy 5.5-mile loop packs in some of San Diego's best sights, including Balboa Park and the charming neighborhoods of Hillcrest, North Park, and Banker's Hill. The terrain is flat and easily accessible to bikes, strollers, and kids (with only a handful of stairs thrown in). If you still want to take a break or two, you'll be passing a plethora of coffee shops, eateries, and watering holes along the way, as well as several museums and everything else Balboa Park has to offer. Look for a cool day, get an early start, and don't forget your camera!

Resources

• Nature of California - Guide to local wildlife and vegetation

Festivals (Family Friendly)

Only listing here those events that are kid-centric:

1. SDIC Scout Fair (Mid-April) - Over 5,000 people attend this event which has been held every year since 1950. Open to the public, the event gives Scouts a chance to earn merit badges, advance their rank and show people what they can do from the ancient craft of knot-tying to building catapults to a thoroughly modern emphasis on cyber safety, nearly 200 pop-up tents and booths offered examples of Scout crafts, activities and interests. Many scout units camp Friday night on the adjacent Chargers practice field, wake up for a breakfast of pancakes, eggs and sausage, and then tackle one or more of the many merit badge activity centers.

Museums

1. 
   USS Midway Museum - historic floating museum and national landmark, this famous aircraft carrier is docked in San Diego Harbor and regularly hosts overnight scout and family campouts. Many exhibits help visitors explore the development of science and technology in the military during the 20th Century. Explore aviation, citizenship and engineering activities onboard.
   1. San Diego 500 - Pinewood Derby event held annual at the SDIC Scout Fair.

Watersports

Sea Scouts

Sea Scouts hold weekly activities for youth ages 14-20. Most units are co-ed and have a venturing theme. Contact either the unit or it's sponsor to get more information back in 72 hours.

• Ship 789 - Santa Margarita Yacht Club - Sea Scouts - Camp Del Mar Marina

1. Oceanside Harbor Days (2nd Weekend in Sept - Popular Sea Scout Activity) - With Nail and Sail, three-member teams have two and a half hours to build a boat from scratch that they will race across the harbor, around a buoy and return to the dock. All they have to work with are three 8-foot sheets of plywood, about 40 feet of framing boards, nails and caulk supplied by Harbor Days’ organizers – the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce. No power tools are allowed. They can’t bring duct tape or other outside supplies.